From television series and movies to music and even cookbooks, Smollett has been a part of Hollywood for much of his life. In February 2019, the future of his career became uncertain when he was charged with filing a false police report after alleging he was the victim of a hate crime.

Want to learn more about him? Here’s what you should know.

He was a child actor.

Smollett gravitated to the arts at a young age. His first film was the 1991 NBC TV movie entitled “A Little Piece of Heaven.” He also starred in the 1992 flick “Mighty Ducks,” where he played Terry Hall.

In 1994, the ABC show “On Our Own” premiered, starring Smollett and his five brothers and sisters, including actress Jurnee Smollett, who played siblings left orphaned by a tragic accident.

He has ties to Angela Davis.

Smollett is biracial. His father, Joel Smollett, was white and died of cancer in 2015. His mother, Janet Smollett, is black. She grew up during the civil rights era and marched alongside prominent figures, including members of the Black Panther Party and Angela Davis.

In fact, his mom and Davis are good friends, and Smollett has spent a lot of time with the influencer throughout his life.

The audition process for “Empire” was challenging.

When he found out about “Empire” and the role of Jamal Lyon, a gay musician, he sent an Instagram message to the show’s creator Lee Daniels.

Daniels remembered him during his audition and called him a “smart kitten.” However, Daniels wasn’t initially convinced Smollett was a good fit. He auditioned seven times before finally booking the gig.

Throughout his career, he’s been nominated for several awards. In 2016, he won four NAACP Image Awards, including one for outstanding new artist and outstanding supporting actor in a drama series for his role on “Empire.”

He’s faced legal troubles.

In January 2019, Smollett, who is openly gay, alleged he was attacked in Chicago by two men who shouted racist and homophobic slurs at him. He also said the attackers tied a noose around his neck and poured bleach on him.

Police initially investigated the incident as a hate crime but later said it was a hoax. They believe the actor paid two Nigerian brothers $3,500 to stage the attack in hopes of promoting his career.

Smollett now faces a felony charge of disorderly conduct for filing a false police report. Under Illinois law, filing a false police report is disorderly conduct and punishable by one to three years in prison.